Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) AAH (Iraqi Kurds – internal relocation) Iraq CG UKUT 00212 (IAC) THE IMMIGRATION ACTS Heard at: Field House Decision & Reasons Promulgated On: 27th and 28th February 2018 ………………………………… Before UPPER TRIBUNAL JUDGE O’CONNOR UPPER TRIBUNAL JUDGE BRUCE Between AAH (ANONYMITY DIRECTION MADE) Appellant And THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT Respondent Representation: For the Appellant: Mr D. Bazini, Mr M. Bradshaw, Counsel instructed by Hasan Solicitors For the Respondent: Mr S. Singh QC, Counsel instructed by the Government Legal Department COUNTRY GUIDANCE Section C of Country Guidance annexed to the Court of Appeal’s decision in AA (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] Imm AR 1440; [2017] EWCA Civ 944 is supplemented with the following guidance: 1. Whilst it remains possible for an Iraqi national returnee (P) to obtain a new CSID whether P is able to do so, or do so within a reasonable time frame, will depend on the individual circumstances. Factors to be considered include: © CROWN COPYRIGHT 2018 i) Whether P has any other form of documentation, or information about the location of his entry in the civil register. An INC, passport, birth/marriage certificates or an expired CSID would all be of substantial assistance. For someone in possession of one or more of these documents the process should be straightforward. A laissez-passer should not be counted for these purposes: these can be issued without any other form of ID being available, are not of any assistance in ‘tracing back’ to the family record and are confiscated upon arrival at Baghdad; ii) The location of the relevant civil registry office. If it is in an area held, or formerly held, by ISIL, is it operational? iii) Are there male family members who would be able and willing to attend the civil registry with P? Because the registration system is patrilineal it will be relevant to consider whether the relative is from the mother or father’s side. A maternal uncle in possession of his CSID would be able to assist in locating the original place of registration of the individual’s mother, and from there the trail would need to be followed to the place that her records were transferred upon marriage. It must also be borne in mind that a significant number of IDPs in Iraq are themselves undocumented; if that is the case it is unlikely that they could be of assistance. A woman without a male relative to assist with the process of redocumentation would face very significant obstacles in that officials may refuse to deal with her case at all. Section E of Country Guidance annexed to the Court of Appeal’s decision in AA (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] Imm AR 1440; [2017] EWCA Civ 944 is replaced with the following guidance: 2. There are currently no international flights to the Iraqi Kurdish Region (IKR). All returns from the United Kingdom are to Baghdad. 3. For an Iraqi national returnee (P) of Kurdish origin in possession of a valid CSID or Iraqi passport, the journey from Baghdad to the IKR, whether by air or land, is affordable and practical and can be made without a real risk of P suffering persecution, serious harm, Article 3 ill treatment nor would any difficulties on the journey make relocation unduly harsh. 4. P is unable to board a domestic flight between Baghdad and the IKR without either a CSID or a valid passport. 5. P will face considerable difficulty in making the journey between Baghdad and the IKR by land without a CSID or valid passport. There are numerous checkpoints en route, including two checkpoints in the immediate vicinity of the airport. If P has neither a CSID nor a valid passport there is a real risk of P being detained at a checkpoint until such time as the security personnel are able to verify P’s identity. It is not reasonable to require P to travel between Baghdad and IKR by land absent the ability of P to verify his identity at a checkpoint. This normally requires the attendance of a male family member and production of P’s identity documents but may also be achieved by calling upon “connections” higher up in the chain of command. 6. Once at the IKR border (land or air) P would normally be granted entry to the territory. Subject to security screening, and registering presence with the local mukhtar, P would be permitted to 2 enter and reside in the IKR with no further legal impediments or requirements. There is no sponsorship requirement for Kurds. 7. Whether P would be at particular risk of ill-treatment during the security screening process must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Additional factors that may increase risk include: (i) coming from a family with a known association with ISIL, (ii) coming from an area associated with ISIL and (iii) being a single male of fighting age. P is likely to be able to evidence the fact of recent arrival from the UK, which would dispel any suggestion of having arrived directly from ISIL territory. 8. If P has family members living in the IKR cultural norms would require that family to accommodate P. In such circumstances P would, in general, have sufficient assistance from the family so as to lead a ‘relatively normal life’, which would not be unduly harsh. It is nevertheless important for decision-makers to determine the extent of any assistance likely to be provided by P’s family on a case by case basis. 9. For those without the assistance of family in the IKR the accommodation options are limited: (i) Absent special circumstances it is not reasonably likely that P will be able to gain access to one of the refugee camps in the IKR; these camps are already extremely overcrowded and are closed to newcomers. 64% of IDPs are accommodated in private settings with the vast majority living with family members; (ii) If P cannot live with a family member, apartments in a modern block in a new neighbourhood are available for rent at a cost of between $300 and $400 per month; (iii) P could resort to a ‘critical shelter arrangement’, living in an unfinished or abandoned structure, makeshift shelter, tent, mosque, church or squatting in a government building. It would be unduly harsh to require P to relocate to the IKR if P will live in a critical housing shelter without access to basic necessities such as food, clean water and clothing; (iv) In considering whether P would be able to access basic necessities, account must be taken of the fact that failed asylum seekers are entitled to apply for a grant under the Voluntary Returns Scheme, which could give P access to £1500. Consideration should also be given to whether P can obtain financial support from other sources such as (a) employment, (b) remittances from relatives abroad, (c) the availability of ad hoc charity or by being able to access PDS rations. 10. Whether P is able to secure employment must be assessed on a case-by-case basis taking the following matters into account: (i) Gender. Lone women are very unlikely to be able to secure legitimate employment; (ii) The unemployment rate for Iraqi IDPs living in the IKR is 70%; (iii) P cannot work without a CSID; 3 (iv) Patronage and nepotism continue to be important factors in securing employment. A returnee with family connections to the region will have a significant advantage in that he would ordinarily be able to call upon those contacts to make introductions to prospective employers and to vouch for him; (v) Skills, education and experience. Unskilled workers are at the greatest disadvantage, with the decline in the construction industry reducing the number of labouring jobs available; (vi) If P is from an area with a marked association with ISIL, that may deter prospective employers. 4 CONTENTS Introduction 1-6 The Evidence Introduction 7-9 Background and current security situation 10-17 Documentation and registration 18-34 Getting to the IKR 35-40 Getting into the IKR 41-44 Legal requirements for staying in the IKR 45-46 Living in the IKR 47-71 Legal Framework Article 8 of the Qualification Directive 72-74 The Respondent’s submissions 75-77 The Appellant’s submissions 78 The Correct Approach 79-90 Discussion and Findings Dr Fatah’s evidence 91 The existing Country Guidance 92 The Respondent’s concession 93-99 Documentation and registration 100-107 Getting to the IKR 108-116 Getting into the IKR 117-120 Legal requirements for staying in the IKR 121 Living in the IKR 122-132 Country Guidance Current security situation 133-134 Country Guidance 135 Decision in the appeal of 136-149 AAH Error of Law Decision Appendix A List of Materials Appendix B Court of Appeal Appendix C guidance in AA (Iraq) [2017] EWCA Civ 944 5 GLOSSARY Asayish Kurdish security services CSID Civil Status Identity Document GoI Government of Iraq Al-Hashd al-Shaabi Shi’a militia under control of GoI IDP Internally Displaced Person IKR Iraqi Kurdish Region INC Iraqi Nationality Certificate IOM International Organisation for Migration ISF Iraqi Security Forces ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant KRG Kurdish Regional Government MoMD Ministry of Migration and Displacement MoI Ministry of Interior Mukhtar Local official PARCS Protection, Assistance and Reintegration Centres PDS Public Distribution System Peshmerga Kurdish military units under control of respective political parties in the IKR, but not under central command of the KRG UXO Unexploded ordinance VRS Voluntary Returns Scheme 6 ANONYMITY DIRECTION Having had regard to Rule 14 of the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 and the Presidential Guidance Note No 1 of 2013: Anonymity Orders, we consider it appropriate to make an order in the following terms: “Unless and until a tribunal or court directs otherwise, the Appellant is granted anonymity.